This year, we sent candidates a survey consisting of only one question: “Do you support regulating and taxing the production and sale of cannabis in Vermont for use by adults 21 and older?” Our voter guides include responses from candidates for state representative, state senator, and governor, in addition to public statements and incumbent legislators’ votes on the legalization bill.

]]>https://blog.mpp.org/tax-and-regulate/vermonts-primary-election-is-tomorrow/feed/010825Connecticut primary election will take place Tuesday, August 14https://blog.mpp.org/tax-and-regulate/connecticut-primary-election-will-take-place-tuesday-august-14/
https://blog.mpp.org/tax-and-regulate/connecticut-primary-election-will-take-place-tuesday-august-14/#respondThu, 09 Aug 2018 17:01:14 +0000https://blog.mpp.org/?p=10823Strong contrast emerges between Democratic candidates for attorney general The Connecticut primary election will take place next Tuesday, August 14. If you’re a Connecticut resident and you’re not sure how or where to vote, please visit the secretary of state’s website for more information. On the Democratic ticket, both candidates for governor and both candidates … Continue reading Connecticut primary election will take place Tuesday, August 14

The Connecticut primary election will take place next Tuesday, August 14. If you’re a Connecticut resident and you’re not sure how or where to vote, please visit the secretary of state’s website for more information.

]]>https://blog.mpp.org/tax-and-regulate/connecticut-primary-election-will-take-place-tuesday-august-14/feed/010823Medical marijuana initiative filed in Mississippihttps://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/medical-marijuana-initiative-filed-in-mississippi/
https://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/medical-marijuana-initiative-filed-in-mississippi/#respondTue, 31 Jul 2018 16:43:25 +0000https://blog.mpp.org/?p=10819Yesterday, Mississippians for Compassionate Care filed an initiative with the Secretary of State’s office that would make medical marijuana legal in Mississippi. The group is aiming to bring an amendment to the state constitution to voters in 2020. The first step to getting it on the ballot is to collect over 100,000 signatures from all … Continue reading Medical marijuana initiative filed in Mississippi

]]>Yesterday, Mississippians for Compassionate Care filed an initiative with the Secretary of State’s office that would make medical marijuana legal in Mississippi. The group is aiming to bring an amendment to the state constitution to voters in 2020. The first step to getting it on the ballot is to collect over 100,000 signatures from all over the state. You can read the proposed amendment here.

]]>Yesterday, the penalty-reduction piece of Oklahoma’s medical marijuana initiative became operational. Individuals possessing up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis face a reduced penalty — a misdemeanor fine of up to $400 — if they “can state a medical condition.”

Meanwhile, regulators made application materials available online for patients and caregivers, along with information for businesses and physicians. It will begin accepting applications on August 25.

Draft revisions (summarized here) would make several welcome changes, including:

• Removing the ban on selling smokeable cannabis and edibles;
• Removing the THC cap;
• Removing the requirement that pharmacists dispense cannabis;
• Making the physician registration optional;
• Removing the requirement that doctors subject all “females of childbearing age” to a pregnancy test before recommending cannabis; and
• Removing the limitation on hours of operation, which banned Sunday sales.

However, we still have some concerns, including that:

• Patients who are tenants must obtain their landlords’ written permission to cultivate. Given federal law, even landlords who are open to cultivation may be unwilling to assent in writing.
• Physicians must to “ascertain” if a female is pregnant or likely to become pregnant before recommending cannabis. This strong language may essentially require pregnancy tests for many women, which is patronizing and invasive and drives up costs.
• Physicians must provide an in-person medical exam within 30 days of the certification. Oklahoma allows telemedicine for most medications.

]]>https://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/oklahoma-medical-cannabis-law-takes-effect-revisions-to-problematic-regs-proposed/feed/110818Vermont: Primary election voter guide publishedhttps://blog.mpp.org/tax-and-regulate/vermont-primary-election-voter-guide-published/
https://blog.mpp.org/tax-and-regulate/vermont-primary-election-voter-guide-published/#respondFri, 27 Jul 2018 15:11:17 +0000https://blog.mpp.org/?p=10816Early voting is already underway for the Vermont state primary election, which is scheduled for Tuesday, August 14. This year, we sent candidates a survey consisting of only one question: “Do you support regulating and taxing the production and sale of cannabis in Vermont for use by adults 21 and older?” Our voter guides include … Continue reading Vermont: Primary election voter guide published

]]>Early voting is already underway for the Vermont state primary election, which is scheduled for Tuesday, August 14.

This year, we sent candidates a survey consisting of only one question: “Do you support regulating and taxing the production and sale of cannabis in Vermont for use by adults 21 and older?”

Our voter guides include responses from candidates for state representative, state senator, and governor, in addition to public statements and incumbent legislators’ votes on the legalization bill. If a candidate in your district has not responded to the survey, we encourage you to reach out to them directly and ask their position!

]]>It was a confusing news cycle, with Jersey City’s municipal prosecutor, Jake Hudnut, releasing a memo effectively decriminalizing marijuana locally and state Attorney General Gurbir Grewal declaring that action invalid. Now, AG Grewal has told all prosecutors to “adjourn” (postpone) marijuana prosecutions in municipal court until at least September 4, when his office will issue new guidance.

In other good news, Asm. Jamel Holley announced plans to propose amendments to improve upon Sen. Nick Scutari’s bill to tax and regulate marijuana, such as making it easier to expunge prior marijuana convictions. We hope the final bill will also include small business opportunities and provisions that ensure that people harmed by prohibition have an opportunity to participate in all aspects of the industry.

]]>https://blog.mpp.org/tax-and-regulate/n-j-hits-pause-on-low-level-marijuana-prosecutions/feed/010814New Jersey announces it’s doubling the number of medical marijuana businesseshttps://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/new-jersey-announces-its-doubling-the-number-of-medical-marijuana-businesses/
https://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/new-jersey-announces-its-doubling-the-number-of-medical-marijuana-businesses/#respondMon, 16 Jul 2018 22:13:14 +0000https://blog.mpp.org/?p=10810Good news! Today, the New Jersey Department of Health announced that it will begin accepting applications for six additional businesses that can grow, process, and sell medical cannabis in the state. The winning businesses are supposed to be announced on November 1. Unfortunately, there is no provision yet for equity applicants, although applicants may be … Continue reading New Jersey announces it’s doubling the number of medical marijuana businesses

]]>Good news! Today, the New Jersey Department of Health announced that it will begin accepting applications for six additional businesses that can grow, process, and sell medical cannabis in the state. The winning businesses are supposed to be announced on November 1. Unfortunately, there is no provision yet for equity applicants, although applicants may be awarded up to 50 (out of 1,000) points for diversity.

With the tiny number of existing businesses, patients have experienced supply shortages and high prices due to a lack of competition. Today’s expansion should help begin to address these problems, although more will need to be done. Separating the licenses for growing, processing, and selling cannabis will help make many more types of products available to patients, and the health department plans to consider additional applications for these licenses beginning in the fall.

In other news, while the June 30 budget deadline came and went without legislative action on any of the pending marijuana bills, Senate President Steve Sweeny has said he believes there could be a vote on legalizing and regulating this summer.

The Department of Health had been working for three months on regulations in case the initiative passed and swiftly released draft emergency regulations. MPP and many other advocates and patients submitted comments raising concerns, flagging several regulations that included onerous restrictions inconsistent with SQ 788.

• Prohibit cannabis from being sold with more than 12% THC in infused products and prohibit plants from exceeding 20% THC.
• Prohibit dispensaries from selling smokeable, flower cannabis, and edible cannabis.
• Require each dispensary to have a pharmacist on staff.
• Require physicians to register before making recommendations, complete medical cannabis-specific training, and screen patients for substance abuse, mental health issues, and whether the patient presents a risk for diversion.
• Require physicians to perform a pregnancy test on “females of childbearing years” before recommending cannabis.

These restrictions will deprive some patients of the medicine that works best for them, while driving up costs and driving down doctor participation.

Advocates are considering next steps, including possible litigation. Stay tuned for updates. Also, we want to express our hearty congratulations to everyone who worked so hard to pass SQ 788!

]]>https://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/oklahoma-board-of-health-restricts-voters-marijuana-law/feed/310808Minnesota patients with autism and sleep apnea now qualify for medical cannabishttps://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/minnesota-patients-with-autism-and-sleep-apnea-now-qualify-for-medical-cannabis/
https://blog.mpp.org/medical-marijuana/minnesota-patients-with-autism-and-sleep-apnea-now-qualify-for-medical-cannabis/#respondTue, 10 Jul 2018 21:46:02 +0000https://blog.mpp.org/?p=10807Last November, the Minnesota Department of Health approved adding autism spectrum disorders and obstructive sleep apnea as qualifying conditions for the state’s medical cannabis program. Under state law, the additions take effect the following summer. Starting on July 1, 2018, patients with a doctor’s certification and either of those conditions could begin registering for the … Continue reading Minnesota patients with autism and sleep apnea now qualify for medical cannabis

Starting on July 1, 2018, patients with a doctor’s certification and either of those conditions could begin registering for the program. They can start accessing medical cannabis no sooner than August 1. Our allies at Sensible Minnesota offer one-on-one assistance to patients who need help navigating the process. Learn more here.

Congratulations to Sensible Minnesota and to all the advocates and health professionals who were involved in petitioning to expand the program!

Sensible Minnesota is now working on petitions to expand the program to include opioid use disorder, hepatitis C, Alzheimer’s, traumatic brain injury, and insomnia.

If you are a Minnesota medical professional who might be willing to add your voice to the petition, contact Sensible Minnesota at 952-529-4420 or by email.